Robert Griffiths (politician)

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Robert Griffiths (politician)
Robert Griffiths in 2011
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 January 1998
Preceded by Mike Hicks
Personal details
Born Robert Griffiths
1952 (age 61–62)
Cardiff, Wales
Nationality British
Political party Communist Party
Other political
affiliations		 Plaid Cymru (1974-78)
WSRM (1979-1982)
Communist Party of Great Britain (until 1988)
Religion None (atheist)

Robert David Griffiths (born 1952)[1] is the general secretary of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB). He was elected by the CPB's Executive Committee in January 1998, in place of Mike Hicks.[2][3]

Griffiths was born in Cardiff where he attended Bryn Hafod primary school and Cardiff High School.[4] Employed as Plaid Cymru research officer from 1974 until 1979, he published Socialism for the Welsh People with Gareth Miles in July 1979.[5][6][7] In January 1980 he was involved in founding the Welsh Socialist Republican Movement.[7] He has also previously served as Welsh president of the AUEW-TASS union.[8]

Griffiths was a speaker at the first Communist University in Wales, and he speaks regularly at national Communist Party events. He has also taken part in debates at the Oxford Union,[9][10][11] Cambridge Union Society[12][13] and Manchester Debating Union.[14] In February 2013, Griffiths was among those who gave their support to the People's Assembly in a letter published by The Guardian newspaper.[15] He continues to be an active supporter of the People's Assembly nationally and is also active in his local People's Assembly in Cardiff.

Bibliography

  • S.O. Davies - a socialist faith. Llandysul: Gomer. 1983. ISBN 0850888875. OL 3242844M. 
  • Socialism for the Welsh People [Sosialaeth i'r Cymry]. Cardiff: Y Faner Goch. 1979. ASIN B0018TWNI4. OCLC 656712405. 
  • Was Gramsci a Eurocommunist?. Cardiff Marxist Forum. 1985. 
  • Driven by ideals - a history of ASLEF. 2005. ASIN B001C72MGU. 
  • Streic! Streic! Streic!. Gwasg Taf. 1986. ASIN B005E2SMGI. ISBN 0948469021. OL 4826101W. 
  • Killing no murder: South Wales and the Great Railway Strike of 1911. Manifesto Press. 2009. ASIN 1907464018. ISBN 978190746401-0. 
  • Which Road for China?. 2011. ISBN 9781908315076. 
  • Britain Needs Public Ownership. Morning Star. 2012. 
  • Granite and Honey. Manifesto Press. 2012. ISBN 9781907464096. 

Elections contested

European Parliament

In the 1994 election he stood on behalf of the Communist Party in the single-member South Wales Central constituency, winning 1,073 votes or 0.6% of the total. Later on in the 2009 election he stood as part of the No2EU electoral list in the multi-member Wales constituency, which won 8,600 votes or 1.3% of the total.[16]

UK Parliament elections

All these elections were contested on behalf of the Communist Party.

Election Constituency Votes %
1997 Pontypridd 178[17] 0.4
2001 Newport East[8] 173[18] 0.6
2005 Pontypridd 233[19] 0.6
2010 Cardiff South and Penarth 196[20] 0.4
2012 Cardiff South and Penarth[21] 213[22] 1.1

Local elections In 2008 he stood for the Spott parish council, winning 127 votes, or 3.4% of the total.[23]

References

  1. ↑ von der Burg, Edmund (2010). "Rob Griffiths". YourNextMP. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. 
  2. ↑ "The Political Situation in Britain". New Worker. New Communist Party of Britain. April 1988. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. 
  3. ↑ Clement, Barrie (22 February 1988). "'Star' strike marks Marx anniversary". the Independent. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. 
  4. ↑ "For a people's MP". Election Leaflets. Cardiff. 17 April 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Sosialaeth i'r Cymry". Gweriniaeth y Gweithiwr. Retrieved 28 November 2013. 
  6. ↑ Mann, Steve (April 1980). "Review of Gareth Miles and Robert Griffiths' Socialism for the Welsh People". Socialist Challenge. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ellis, Peter (1985). the Celtic revolution: a study in anti-imperialism. Talybont: Y Lolfa. pp. 93–95. ASIN 0862430968. ISBN 9780862430962. OL 1812565W. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dominic, MacAskill. "the Communist Party Election Site". Welsh Communist Party. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. 
  9. ↑ Don't dream the American Dream (video). Oxford Union. 1 March 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Oxford Union debate rejects the American Dream". 21centurymanifesto. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. 
  11. ↑ Socialism does work (video). Oxford Union. 28 November 2013. 
  12. ↑ This House Believes Capitalism Has Failed (video). Cambridge Union Society. 4 October 2012. 
  13. ↑ "Cambridge Union debate". Cambridge Communists. 9 October 2012. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. 
  14. ↑ Taylor, Millia (11 October 2013). "Never take financial advice from someone who has less money than you". the Tab Manchester. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. 
  15. ↑ "People's Assembly Against Austerity opening letter". the Guardian. 5 February 2013. p. 33. 
  16. ↑ Parry-Jones, Bryn (7 June 2009). "Election for the European Parliament electoral region of Wales" (PDF). Pembrokeshire County Council. 
  17. ↑ Kimber, Richard (22 October 2012). "Pontypridd". General Election result, May 1997. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. 
  18. ↑ Kimber, Richard (22 October 2012). "Newport East". General Election result, June 2001. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. 
  19. ↑ "Results for Pontypridd". the Electoral Commission. 
  20. ↑ "Results for Cardiff South and Penarth". the Electoral Commission. 
  21. ↑ "Communists to contest Cardiff South and Penarth by-election". Welsh Communist Party. 23 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. 
  22. ↑ Keane, Kristofer. "Cardiff South and Penarth, 2012". 
  23. ↑ Teale, Andrew. "Y Sblot". Local Elections 2008. Local Elections Archive Project. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. 
Political offices
Preceded by
Mike Hicks		 General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain
1998 - present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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